Whitestone REIT Acquires Primely Located World Cup Plaza in Frisco, Texas

Rhea-AI Summary

Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) acquired the 90,391 sq ft restaurant-anchored World Cup Plaza in Frisco, Texas on Nov. 7, 2025. The center sits adjacent to Toyota Stadium — a 21,000-seat venue undergoing a $182 million renovation and expected to host teams as a 2026 FIFA World Cup Team Base Camp.

World Cup Plaza is at the busy northeast corner of Main Street and the Dallas North Tollway (~135,000 VPD), serves a 5-mile population of 293,951 with average household income of $149,335, and includes restaurants, service tenants and Wells Fargo. Whitestone plans leasing-led rent growth and to leverage nearby portfolio scale.

Positive

• Property size 90,391 sq ft
• Adjacent to Toyota Stadium (21,000 seats) and 2026 World Cup base camp
• $182 million stadium renovation increases local draw
• Intersection traffic ~135,000 VPD
• 5-mile population 293,951; average household income $149,335
• Adds to Whitestone’s local scale: four nearby centers owned

Negative

• None.

Insights

Real Estate Investment Strategist

Acquisition strengthens Whitestone REIT's Dallas footprint and offers near-term traffic tailwinds from the 2026 World Cup.

The purchase of the 90,391 square-foot World Cup Plaza adjacent to Toyota Stadium increases local scale and concentration in a high-income submarket. The center sits at ~135,000 vehicles per day and serves 293,951 people within five miles with an average household income of 149,335, supporting steady consumer demand. The stadium renovation of 182 million and its role as a World Cup team base camp add a near-term, event-driven traffic catalyst in 2026.

Key dependencies include successful leasing execution and capturing incremental traffic during the 2026 event window. The announcement cites plans to use Whitestone's leasing platform to grow rents and improve the customer experience; execution risk rests on tenant mix, lease terms, and timing of any repositioning. Monitor leasing velocity, rent change metrics, and occupancy in the next 6–18 months to assess whether the asset delivers the cited rent growth and cash-flow durability.

Center located adjacent to the 21,000-seat Toyota Stadium that attracts more than 1.4 million visitors annually and will serve as a base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Property strategically situated at the busiest intersection north of 121 and the North Dallas Tollway (~135,000 VPD)

Solidifies Whitestone’s presence in the highly affluent, rapidly growing Dallas submarket

HOUSTON, Nov. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR), a neighborhood-focused owner and operator of open-air shopping centers in Texas and Arizona, today announced it has acquired the restaurant-anchored World Cup Plaza in Frisco, Texas, a highly affluent submarket of Dallas. The center is strategically located adjacent to the home of FC Dallas: Toyota Stadium, a 21,000-seat stadium currently undergoing a $182 million renovation designed to enhance the fan experience. The stadium, which attracts more than 1.4 million visitors annually, will serve as an official World Cup Team Base Camp, allowing participating teams to utilize the state-of-the-art facility to train before games.

The 90,391 square-foot World Cup Plaza, situated at the northeast corner of main street and Dallas North Tollway – the busiest intersection north of 121 and North Dallas Tollway (approximately 135,000 vehicles per day) – sits across the street from Frisco Square, a 147-acre pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development that features 1.5 million square feet of office space and 1,400 apartments. Nearby Memorial and Wakeland High Schools drive repeat, dependable traffic to the center.

“The strategic addition of World Cup Plaza allows us to further strengthen our presence in thriving Frisco, which is home to several headquarters, including the PGA of America and the Dallas Cowboys,” stated Christine Mastandrea, President and COO of Whitestone REIT. “The center aligns with our investment thesis of acquiring well-located, neighborhood shopping centers in growing markets with strong upside potential that can be realized through our best-in-class leasing platform and operational expertise.”

World Cup Plaza, developed in 2007, features a synergistic mix of necessity retailers and restaurants, including Blue Goose Cantina, The Green Gator, The NOW Massage, Hikari Sushi & Grill, Lemma Coffee Roasters, Rotate Bar & Kitchen, Frisco Soccer Association and Wells Fargo. The center serves more than 293,951 people within a 5-mile radius, with an average household income of $149,335. Whitestone expects to leverage its strong leasing relationships and market knowledge to drive further rent growth and improve the customer experience.

Dave Holeman, CEO of Whitestone, commented: “Frisco continues to outpace many markets across the country in both population and economic growth, and we are pleased to add scale here by opportunistically acquiring World Cup Plaza. Not only does this center benefit from strong year-round traffic because of its prime location, but we are expecting a surge in visitors in 2026 because of the World Cup and the center’s proximity to Toyota Stadium. We believe World Cup Plaza presents a unique opportunity to strengthen our portfolio and drive shareholder value, while simultaneously improving the durability of our cash flows.”

In addition to Wold Cup Plaza, Whitestone also owns four other institutional-quality shopping centers nearby, including Headquarters Village, The Shops at Starwood, Lakeside Market and Eldorado Plaza.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) is a community-centered real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, owns, operates, and develops open-air, retail centers located in some of the fastest growing markets in the country: Phoenix, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Our centers are convenience focused: merchandised with a mix of service-oriented tenants providing food (restaurants and grocers), self-care (health and fitness), services (financial and logistics), education and entertainment to the surrounding communities. The Company believes its strong community connections and deep tenant relationships are key to the success of its current centers and its acquisition strategy. For additional information, please visit the Company's investor relations website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations, statements related to our expectations regarding the performance of our business, and other matters. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but are the intent, belief or current expectations of our management based on its knowledge and understanding of our business and industry. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “predicts,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” or the negative of such terms and variations of these words and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in this Report include: the imposition of federal income taxes if we fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) in any taxable year or forego an opportunity to ensure REIT status; uncertainties related to the national economy, the real estate industry in general and in our specific markets; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing REITs; adverse economic or real estate developments or conditions in Texas or Arizona, Houston and Phoenix in particular, including the potential impact of public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, on our tenants’ ability to pay their rent, which could result in bad debt allowances or straight-line rent reserve adjustments; increases in interest rates, including as a result of inflation operating costs or general and administrative expenses; our current geographic concentration in the Houston and Phoenix metropolitan area makes us susceptible to local economic downturns and natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes, which may increase as a result of climate change, increasing focus by stakeholders on environmental, social, and governance matters, financial institution disruption; availability and terms of capital and financing, both to fund our operations and to refinance our indebtedness as it matures; decreases in rental rates or increases in vacancy rates; harm to our reputation, ability to do business and results of operations as a result of improper conduct by our employees, agents or business partners; litigation risks; lease-up risks, including leasing risks arising from exclusivity and consent provisions in leases with significant tenants; our inability to renew tenant leases or obtain new tenant leases upon the expiration of existing leases; risks related to generative artificial intelligence tools and language models, along with the potential interpretations and conclusions they might make regarding our business and prospects, particularly concerning the spread of misinformation; our inability to generate sufficient cash flows due to market conditions, competition, uninsured losses, changes in tax or other applicable laws; geopolitical conflicts, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in the Gaza Strip and unrest in the Middle East; the need to fund tenant improvements or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flow; the extent to which our estimates regarding Pillarstone REIT Operating Partnership LP's financial condition and results of operations differ from actual results; and the risk that we are unable to raise capital for working capital, acquisitions or other uses on attractive terms or at all and other factors detailed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Contacts:

For Whitestone REIT – Investors
David Mordy
(713) 435-2219
ir@whitestonereit.com

For Whitestone REIT – Media:
Matthew Chudoba
WhitestonePR@icrinc.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c4b96519-7cb8-4627-bd55-928c74b40850

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5695b027-8604-436e-8beb-5353be736e44

FAQ

What did Whitestone REIT (WSR) purchase in Frisco on Nov. 7, 2025?

Whitestone acquired the 90,391 sq ft World Cup Plaza, a restaurant-anchored shopping center in Frisco, Texas.

How close is World Cup Plaza to Toyota Stadium and the 2026 World Cup activities?

World Cup Plaza sits adjacent to Toyota Stadium (21,000 seats) and will benefit from the stadium serving as a 2026 FIFA World Cup Team Base Camp.

What local traffic and demographic metrics support the WSR acquisition in Frisco?

The center is at a corner with ~135,000 vehicles per day and a 5-mile population of 293,951 with average household income of $149,335.

Which tenants anchor World Cup Plaza purchased by WSR?

The center includes restaurants and service tenants such as Blue Goose Cantina, Hikari Sushi & Grill, Lemma Coffee Roasters, The NOW Massage and Wells Fargo.

How does the World Cup Plaza acquisition fit Whitestone’s strategy?

Whitestone said the property aligns with its neighborhood-center strategy and plans to drive rent growth through its leasing platform and operational expertise.